Weatherproof take-up reel



Jan. 26, 1965 A. 1. APPLETON 3,167,161

WEATHERPROOF TAKE-UP REEL Filed Nov. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I06 5 INVENTOR ARTHUR I. APPLETON TTYS.

Jan. 26, 1965 A. APPLETON 3,167,151

WEATHERPROOF' TAKE-UP REEL Filed Nov. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INvEN-roiz ARTHUR I APPLETON A. I. APPLETON 3,167,161

WEATHERPROOF TAKE-UP REEL Jan. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 24, 1961 INVENTOR Ann-ma I. APPLETON Kiwi/Mm,

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Jan. 26, 1965 A. l. APPLETON 3,167,

WEATHERPROOF TAKE-UP REEL Filed Nov. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N VL- INVENTOR s Ann-aura LAPPLEToN 1% W1, Mlamj TTYS,

United States Patent Ofifice 3,167,161 WEATHERPROOF TAKE-UP REEL Arthur I. Appleton, Northhrook, Ill. (1713 Wellington Ave., Chicago, Ill.)

Filed Nov. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,697 3 Claims. (Cl. 191-12.2)

The present invention relates to take-up reels and more specifically to weatherproof and waterproof reels of the type embodying a cable-carrying drum mounted for rotation on a frame, a series of collector rings and brushes mounted between the frame and drum for providing electrical connection between an electrical source and a cable wound on said drum and a spring rewind motor on the frame for tensioning and rewinding cable which has been pulled out from said drum.

An illustrative take-up or cable reel of the type to which the present invention relates is shown in US. Patent 2,074,305, issued March 16, 1937, to N. A. Tornblom. In the construction there shown, a cable is wound on a flanged drum or reel journaled on a stationary shaft. The drum houses in its central interior portions, one or more suitable tension rewind springs. A collector ring and brush assembly is mounted in an outboard casing on the frame on which the reel is supported, and the cable on the reel is connected to the collector ring assembly by means of an inner hollow shaft which rotates within the fixed drum supporting shaft and extends into the collector ring casing.

One object of the" present invention is to provide an improved weatherproofed take-up reel structure which is simple to make and assemble, is economical, and is rugged, long-wearing, and requires a minimum of maintenance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved takeup reel of the foregoing type in which the overall dimensions are substantially reduced without the corresponding reduction in capacity of the reel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a take-up reel of the above character which is simple in construction, easily maintained and repaired, and yet is completely weathertight and waterproof.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a weatherproof take-up reel of the foregoing type in which the components are readily accessible for replacement and servicing without necessitating the dismounting or removal of the entire unit or the dismantling of the entire reel structure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section, taken in a vertical plane, of a take-up reel embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the motor side of the reel shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the enclosing cover cut away.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the frame side of the reel shown in FIG. 1 with portions cut away to show a portion of the collector ring assembly.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a take-up reel of the type shown in FIG. 1 and embodying the present invention.

While an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, equivalents, and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The take-up reel construction herein disclosed gen- Patented Jan. 26, 1965 erally comprises a frame having a shaft fixed at one end thereto and extending therefrom on which is journaled a cable reel. The reel is formed by a hollow central cylindrical drum portion having outwardly extending annular flange or reel sides for containing a cable wound on the drum. Outboard of the reel and fixed between the outer reel side and the free end of the shaft is a cartridge type spring motor, which may be of the character disclosed and claimed in US. application, Serial No. 742,286, now Patent No. 3,040,139 issued June 19, 1962. Contained within the drum is a brush and collector ring assembly, and leads from the collector ring extend through a passage in the shaft into a sealed weatherproof connection chamber formed in the frame.

A take-up reel embodying the invention is shown in the drawings and comprises a flanged drum or reel proper 11 journaled on a stationary cantilever shaft 12 fixed at one end to a stationary frame 14. A collector assembly 15 is fixed on said shaft within the central portion of the drum 11, and a cartridge type spring motor 16 is mounted on the free end of the shaft 12 outboard of the drum and is fixed between the outboard side of the drum and the free end of the shaft 12 by a suitable overrun clutch 18.

For supporting the reel 11, the frame 14 is formed with a base 19 which extends generally parallel to the shaft 12, and is provided with one or more mounting apertures 20 for receiving suitable fasteners (not shown). The main body of the frame 14 is formed as a chamber 21 by means of an outwardly extending annular wall 22 the outer rim of which defines an opening 23 adapted to be covered by a closure plate 24 and sealing gasket 25, the latter providing a weather and waterproof seal between the cover 24 and the wall 22.

For supporting the shaft 12 on the frame there is provided integral with the frame a mounting flange or sleeve 27 having a bore 28 therethrough for receiving one end of the shaft 12. The shaft is provided with an axial shoulder 29 which abuts against one end of the sleeve 27, and the end of the shaft extending through the sleeve is threaded with a series of threads 30 for threadably receiving a nut 31 which abuts the opposite end of the sleeve 27 so that the shaft is securely clamped to the frame. The shaft is prevented against rotation within the bushing flange by means of a key and slot arrangement. To this end, axially extending slots 33, 34 are provided in the shaft and bushing respectively, for receiving a key 35. The shaft fits closely within the bore of the bushing to prevent the entrance of moisture into the chamber 21 and the end of the shaft is hollow so as to provide a conductor receiving passage opening into the chamber 21 from the central portion of the shaft on which the reel proper is mounted.

In order to provide for the entrance of conductors into the connection chamber 21, a line wire entrance passage 36 is provided through the wall 22. A line wire (not shown) may be mounted in this passage by the use of a suitable sealing device, the purpose of which is to provide a water tight, weatherproof seal, to prevent the entrance of moisture into the connection chamber 21.

A wire containing cable, indicated generally at C (FIG. 3), is wound on the reel 11, being supported by a central part in the form of a short cylindrical drum 39 and confined between a pair of spaced radially extending side flanges 40, 41. The central drum 39', having spaced side walls 43, 44 joined by a cable supporting cylinder 45, is hollow and encloses the collector ring and brush assembly 15. One side flange 40 is permanently attached to the inboard side wall 43 of the drum by suitable fasteners such as rivets 46 or the like, while the outboard side wall 44 is removable to afford access into the central portion of said drum for mounting and servicing the collector ring and brush assembly. To this end the outer marginal portion of the cylinder wall 44 is formed as an integral inturned flange 47 on the cylinder 45 and a coverlike portion or cap 48 forms the inner portion of this side wall and encloses the drum. The side cover 48 is securely attached to the inturned flange 47 by threaded mounting screws 49, and at the same time and with the same screws the outboard flange 41 is securely mounted on the drum wall 44. For this purpose, the fiange is provided with apertures 50 through which the mounting screws 49 extend when the side cover 48 is fastened in place. Means are provided for journaling the cable reel or drum 39 for rotation on the fixed shaft 12, and at the same time for insuring that moisture will not enter into the central portion of the drum in which the collector ring and brush assembly is located. One illustrative means for this purpose is shown in the drawing and comprises 'a pair of flanged bearing sleeves 51, 52 pressed into central openings 53, 54- in the drum side walls 43, respectively and snugly but rotatably surrounding corresponding bearing surfaces 55, on the shaft 12. These bearings may be made of any suitable material of the type conventionally employed for flange bearings.

Additionally, improved and ready access into the inner cylinder portion of the drum 39 is provided by means forming a removable cover 58 (FIG. 4) which is generally segmental in shape and is provided with an outer surface 59 which is rounded to substantiall the same radius as the remainder or generally cylindrical body portion 45'of the drum. Together the cylinder body portion and segmentalcover 58 define a separable cylinder, which with the annular flanges 40, 41 mounted therein defines a cable receiving drum ho si g a collector assembly which includes contact rings and brushes within its central cylinder portion. The cover 58 and cylinder 45 are provided with corresponding generally fiat sealing surfaces 6%, 61, respectively, and a gasket 62 is placed between the two surfaces to prevent the entrance of moisture into the interior of the drum 'By removing the cylinder cover 58 as well as the side wall cover 48, the interior of the drum is readily exposed so that the collector ring assembly 15 can be reached for service. Fasteners (not shown) are provided "for tightly clamping the cover 58 onto the drum 45 and sealingly enclosing the chamber defined therein, tapped holes 63 or the like being provided in the drum for receiving such fasteners.

In the take-up reel shown, the collector ring assembly 15 includes a plurality of spaced contact rings 65 fixed onto the shaft 12 between the support bearing surfaces 55, 56. Each of the spaced contact rings 65is connected to an appropriate conductor or wire 66 which extends through the opening in the shaft 12 and into the connector chamber 21 as described above. The rings 65 are spaced from each other by annular spacer s 68 of dielectric material, each of which is shaped in the form of an annular element generally L-shaped in cross section. These spacers 68 interlock with each other and with the contact rings 65. When the spacers and rings are mounted in a series on the shaft 12 they are held in place against a shoulder 69 on the shaft by a nut 7t) threadably engaged withthreads 71 at the opposite end of the shaft from the shoulder 69. This threaded connection is outboard of the frame so that the contact rings can be removed from the free end of the shaft simply by removing the nut and sliding off each spacer and contact ring individually.

For providing continuous electric contact with the contact rings, a plurality of brushes 72, corresponding in number to the contact rings 65 are mounted on the drum 45 beneath the cover 59. Each of the contact brushes 72 is mounted in a brush holder 73 defining an aperture 74 through which the brush mounted therein extends. The brush is biased outwardly of the holder 73 inner end of the brush. As the brushes wear, the springs 75 urge the corresponding brush outwardly into continuous electrical contact with the adjacent ring. A lead wire 76 (FIG. 3) connects each brush to an individual terminal 77 to which one end of a conductor 78 in the cable is connected. The cable passes through an access opening 79 in the drum 45 and is sealed therein by a sealing member, for example a rubber bushing 80, and is held tightly in place by a clamping ring 81. The opening 7 9 through which the cable C enters is directed generally tangentially of the drum so that the cable wraps naturally around the drum as it is coiled therein (see FIG. 3).

For providing a driving connection between the drum 11 and the shaft 12, to rewind cable which has been paid out from the reel and for tensioning the cable if desired, there is provided one or more cart-ridge type spring motors 16, as shown in FIG. 1. One spring motor which can be employed is described and claimed in copending application, Serial No. 742,286, filed June 16, 1958, for Take-Up Reel, now Patent No. 3,040,139 issued June 19, 1962, to which reference should be made for a more detailed disclosure of such a motor. For present purposes, however, the following description should suflice.

The cartridge motor comprises a spiral rewind spring 84 formed of suitable spring steel secured to a hub formed by a pair of spaced plates 87 joined together in spaced apart relation by three equally spaced axially extending pins 58 and having a hexagonal socket defined generally by hexagonal apertures 86 in the center portion of each of the plates87. The spring $4 is secured at its inner end to one of the pins 88 and wraps around the hub in spiral-like fashion. At its free end the spring is secured to a housing or spider '89, which is in turn mounted on the cable reel'or drum 11.

For engaging the outboard flange 41 of the drum 11, the spider is formed with projecting lugs or abutments 91 which engage shoulders 92 on the flange 41. In addition, the spider is secured to the flange by suitable fasteners or mounting screws 94 threadab'ly engaged with the flange abutment 92.

In order to provide a positive one way force connection between the cartridge and the shaft to prevent damage to the spring motor in the event the reel should continue to rotate when the motor is completely unwound, the hub assembly of the cartridge is drivingly connected to the shaft by means of the overrun clutch 18. The clutch 18 includes a hexagonal collar 95 which rotatably surrounds the end of the shaft 12 and is formed with an outer generally hexagonal surface for engaging within the socket defined by the hexagonal apertures 'in the hub plates 87. The shaft 12 extends through the collar 95- and is provided with a flatted end .93 which engages in a fiatted slot 99 defined in a clutch disc 100. The desired positive one way force transmission is accomplished between the collar 95 and the clutchdisc 100 by means of a spring biased key 1411 slidably mounted in an annular flange 102 on the coller 95 and releasably engageable with a shoulder 103 on the clutch disc 1% through which the flatted shaft end 98 extends (FIG. 2). A clutch of the foregoing type is disclosed in the above mentioned application Serial No. 742,286, now Patent No. 3,040,139 issued June 19, 1962 to which reference should be made for a more detailed description.

For sealingly enclosing the cartridge motor to prevent the entrance of moisture thereinto, a cover 104 in the form of a shallow dished member having outwardly extending peripheral flanges 105, is mounted on the drum flange 41 over the cartridge motor 16. A gasket 1% is interposed between the cover and the drum flange to prevent the entrance of moisture into the motor cover 104. The cover 104 is clamped onto the reel in any suitable manner, an appropriate. fastening screw 107' being shown in FIG. 1 for this purpose.

As the cable is pulled from the take-up reel, the drum rotates winding the cartridge rewind motor. The motor exerts a constant tension on the cable by its tendency to turn the reel in a rewind direction. Should it be desired to hold the cable in a withdrawn position, an ap' propriate detent 1% is provided. When the cable is released, the cartridge spring motor will act between the fixed shaft and the drum to rewind the cable.

It will be appreciated, upon reference to FIG. 4, that the reel is readily disassembled from one end, thereby facilitating repair or rewiring. Moreover, the cartridge motor is readily replaced should it be desired to repair it or enlarge the capacity of the reel. This is accomplished simply by removing the overrun clutch, releasing the cartridge and lifting it off of the drum side. Should it be desired to further disassemble the drum to attain access to the brush and collector ring assembly, the side of the drum 48 is removed together with the flange 41 thereby exposing the interior of the central drum portion 45 and affording access to the collector rings. Similarly, the brushes are readily accessible simply by removing the cap 59 forming a portion of the cable drum 45. The entire assembly and disassembly operation can. be carried out without dismounting the reel in its entirety and without disturbing the lead-in connections in the chamber 21. Moreover, the reel when assembled is completely water tight and thus especially adapted for use in outdoor locations requiring a weather and moisture resistant construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. A weatherproof take-up reel carrying a cable embodying a plurality of conductors, said reel comprising, in combination, a frame including spaced walls defining a closed casing, one of said walls having a flange defining an opening therethrough, a shaft having one end extending through said opening and fixed to said flange, said shaft having a bore extending at least partially therethrough and communicating at said one end with the interior of the casing, a cable reel having spaced Walls joined by a generally cylindrical wall defining with said spaced walls a central hollow drum, said spaced walls having alined axial openings therethrough for receiving said shaft, a flanged bearing in each of said wall openings journaling said reel on the extending portion of said shaft, said cylindrical wall being formed in two parts so as to be separable, means for releasably securing said parts together, each of said spaced walls and one part of said cylindrical wall having a flange defining a first surface, a corresponding flange defining a surface on the other part of said cylindrical wall corresponding in shape to said first surface, a gasket corresponding in shape to said surfaces for sealing the joint formed when said cylinder wall parts are secured together, a series of contact rings fixed on said shaft within said drum, a plurality of brushes for engaging said rings, means mounting said brushes on said first surface of said drum for rotation therewith, said cable being wound on said reel with the conductors thereof extending into the interior portion of said drum and electrically connected to said brushes, and means fixed between said drum and the other end of said shaft for providing a driving connection between said reel and said shaft.

2. A weatherproof take-up reel comprising, in combination, a frame including spaced walls defining a closed casing, one of said walls having a flange defining an opening therethrough, a shaft having one end extending through said opening and fixed to said flange, said shaft having a bore extending at least partially therethrough and communicating at said one end with the interior of the casing, a cable reel having spaced walls joined by a generally cylindrical wall defining with said spaced walls a central hollow drum, said spaced walls having alined axial openings therethrough for receiving said shaft, a flanged bearing in each of said Wall openings journaling said reel on the extending portion of said shaft, said cylindrical wall being formed in two parts so as to be separable, means for releasably securing said parts together, each of said spaced walls and one part of said cylindrical wall having a flange defining a first surface, a corresponding flange defining a surface on the other part of said cylindrical wall corresponding in shape to said first surface, a gasket corresponding in shape to said surfaces for sealing the joint formed when said cylinder wall parts are secured together whereby access can be had to the interior of said central hollow drum upon removal of said other drum part, a series of contact rings fixed on said shaft within said drum, a plurality of brushes for engaging said rings, and means mounting said brushes on said first surface of said drum for rotation therewith, said cable being wound on said reel with the conductors thereof extending into the interior portion of said drum and electrically connected to said brushes.

3. A weatherproof take-up reel carrying a cable including a plurality of conductor-s, said reel comprising, in combination, a frame including spaced walls defining a closed casing, one of said walls having a flange defining an opening therethrough, a shaft having one end extending through said opening and fixed to said flange, said shaft having a bore extending at least partially therethrough and communicating at said one end with the interior of the casing, a cable reel having spaced Walls joined by a generally cylindrical Wall defining with said spaced walls a central hollow drum, said spaced walls having alined axial openings therethrough for receiving said shaft, 21 flanged bearing in each of said wall openings journaling said reel on the extending portion of said shaft, said cylindrical wall being formed in two parts so as to be separable, means for releasably securing said parts together, each of said spaced walls and one part of said cylindrical wall having a flange defining a first surface, a corresponding flange defining a surface on the other part of said cylindrical wall corresponding in shape to said first surface, a gasket corresponding in shape to said surfaces for sealing the joint formed when said cylinder wall parts are secured together, a series of contact rings fixed on said shaft within said drum, a plurality of brushes for engaging said rings, means mounting said brushes on said first surface of said drum for rotation therewith, said cable being wound on said reel with the conductors thereof extending into the interior portion of said drum and electrically connected to said brushes, a removable cartridge type spring motor fixed between the exterior of said drum and the outer end of said shaft for providing a spring driving connection between said drum and said shaft, and a cover sealingly mounted on said reel and enclosing said spring motor for preventing entrance of moisture into said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,747,411 Anderson Feb. 18, 1930 2,606,978 Scanlon Aug. 12, 1952 2,612,569 Moon Sept. 30, 1952 2,821,453 Jessen Jan. 28, 1958 3,033,488 Weber May 8, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 152,837 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1920 

1. A WEATHERPROOF TAKE-UP REEL CARRYING A CABLE EMBODYING A PLURALITY OF CONDUCTORS, SAID REEL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME INCLUDING SPACED WALLS DEFINING A CLOSED CASING, ONE OF SAID WALLS HAVING A FLANGE DEFINING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, A SHAFT HAVING A FLANGE DEEXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND FIXED TO SAID FLANGE, SAID SHAFT HAVING A BORE EXTENDING AT LEAST PARTIALLY THERETHROUGH AND COMMUNICATING AT SAID ONE END WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CASING, A CABLE REEL HAVING SPACED WALLS JOINED BY GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL DEFINING WITH SAID SPACED WALLS A CENTRAL HOLLOW DRUM, SAID SPACED WALLS HAVING ALINED AXIAL OPENINGS THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING SAID SHAFT, A FLANGED BEARING IN EACH OF SAID WALL OPENINGS JOURNALING SAID REEL ON THE EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID SHAFT, SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL BEING FORMED IN TWO PARTS SO AS TO BE SEPARATED, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID PARTS TOGETHER, EACH OF SAID SPACED WALLS AND ONE PART OF SAID CYLINDER WALL HAVING A FLANGE DEFINING A FIRST SURFACE, A CORRESPONDING FLANGE DEFINING A SURFACE ON THE OTHER PART OF SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO SAID FIRST SURFACES A GASKET CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO SAID SURFACES FOR SEALING THE JOINT FORMED WHEN SAID CYLINDER WALL PARTS ARE SECURED TOGETHER, A SERIES OF CONTACT RINGS FIXED ON SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID DRUM, A PLURALITY OF BRUSHES FOR ENGAGING SAID RINGS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID BRUSHES ON SAID FIRST SURFACE OF SAID DRUM FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID CABLE BEING WOUND ON SAAID REEL WITH THE CONDUCTORS THEREOF EXTENDING INTO THE INTERIOR PORTION OF SAID DRUM AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BUSHES, AND MEANS FIXED BETWEEN SAID DRUM AND THE OTHER END OF SAID SHAFT FOR PROVIDING A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID REEL AND SAID SHAFT. 